Best-run state in the nation

November 30, 2012

Well, now everyone else knows what we've known for quite some time:?North Dakota is the best-run state in the nation.

The annual 24/7 Wall St. report ranked the state first, using information to determine how well states are run by studying credit scores, debt, taxes, exports, gross domestic product, poverty, income, unemployment, high school graduation, crime and foreclosure rates. The study also examined how each state spent money.

Following North Dakota in the top 10 were Wyoming, Nebraska, Utah and Iowa.

Obviously, North Dakota continues to benefit from the booming oil industry, which contributes to the state's low unemployment rate and boosts the state's tax collections. But the state's crime rates have also risen, which is not necessarily all attributable to the oil industry.

Certainly, North Dakota has work to do to keep up with ever-changing infrastructure needs and a growing population. But the study does highlight the state's successes and offers evidence that the state's business climate continues to attract industries to the state.